Coal state premiers say mining plans run well into 2040s
The premiers of the German coal mining states of Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have said they still plan coal mining activities to continue well into the 2040s. In a guest article published in the Handelsblatt on the day of the first meeting of Germany鈥檚 coal exit commission, Saxony鈥檚 Michael Kretschmer and NRW鈥檚 Armin Laschet (both CDU) cited studies that suggest that Germany could still reach its climate targets without an 鈥渁ccelerated鈥� exit from coal-fired power production. Kretschmer and Laschet stressed that supply security, low power prices, and clear-cut economic prospects for coal workers and regions after the phase-out were the key factors for the commission to consider. 鈥淚f all these factors are adequately considered, then there鈥檚 a chance that there will be a proposal in the end that can find broad acceptance,鈥� they said.
Find the article in German (paywall).
For background, read the 威力彩玩法 article Commission watch 鈥� Managing Germany鈥檚 coal phase-out and the factsheet Germany鈥檚 coal exit commission.